Excalibur is Missing

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Vice-Admiral Misha Abronvonvich looked sick to his stomach. “They’ve gone what?”

 

“Missing, sir.”

 

“I heard you,” he said with a heavy sigh. “What the hell is Corizon upto this time.”

 

“Sir?”

 

The crag faced Admiral pushed away from his desk and walked towards the floor to ceiling windows that flanked it. “He’s upto something.

 

“Damnit Corizon, you just can’t leave well enough alone. Do something good, then muck it up!”

 

The young lieutenant serving as the aide-de-camp for the Admiral, Jeri Sannon, took a deep breath. “Orders, sir?”

 

“This is going to be a royal mess. He no doubt is headed to Romulan space. Bastard must have got a cloaking device somewhere along the way. I knew that crafty bastard was upto something.”

 

“You think he has clearance from ATAG?”

 

“Officially? Hell no. Even they’re not bold enough to officially sign-off on something this reckless. I doubt his crew knew what he was upto either.”

 

“What should we do?”

 

“Nothing,” he said, turning to face his aide. “I am sure the Admirality will be calling me soon enough.”

 

“Shouldn’t we have Avalon report them as MIA?”

 

“Why would we do that? We’re not expecting them. Their standing orders were to assist in station construction. Beyond that, he was not operating on any new orders from me. I do know he’d received official orders to assist the Republic.”

 

“Orders he clearly disobeyed.”

 

“Yes,” Misha said. “Like I said, I am sure they’ll contact me.”

 

The words had barely left his lips when the bosun whistle interrupted his train of thought.

 

“Admiral,” came the voice of Corris Sprint.

 

“Yes, Commander?”

 

“I have a priority signal for you, live-feed, from Fleet Admiral Nyuri.”

 

“Live?”

 

“Yes, Admiral, the uh, Admiral is waiting for you.”

 

“Calling collect, no doubt. Very well, put him through.”

 

Sannon started to leave, but Abronvonvich waived for him to stay before activating the wall monitor. The screen was quickly filled with the angular, sharplines of the Tetarin fleet admiral.

 

“Misha,” he said in a low, brassy voice. “Long time, as you humans like to express.”

 

“Nyuri,” Abronvonvich said. “I take it this isn’t a personal call.”

 

“That would be correct.”

 

“Very well, what do you need?”

 

“As I am sure you’re network of associates has already told you, the Excalibur has gone missing en route to Earth.”

 

Running a hand through his silver hair, now knowing he was going to be sick, Abronvonvich nodded. “Yes, I had heard that. Rather surprising.”

 

“Given the history of the commander of the Excalibur, I am not sure how anything that happens with that ship is surprising.”

 

“Fair enough.”

 

“As you know, Excalibur was supposed to be escorting the Republic back to Earth.”

 

“A job better suited for a proper tug,” Abronvonvich interjected. “Not that it matters.”

 

“It doesn’t. What matters is that Corizon and the Excalibur have disappeared without any apparent orders to the contrary. Unless you have something to add in that regard?”

 

“No, Admiral. Captain Corizon’s standing orders from me were to assist in construction of the station. I have not been in direct contact with him since he left for the wormhole construction site.”

 

“What about indirect contact? When was the last time Excalibur reported in?”

 

“I’d have to check for the exact report, but the last one that I saw was right before the disembarked from Deep Space Nine for Earth.”

 

“I see. And did Captain Corizon give you any indication that he…”

 

“Is this an official inquiry Nyuri?”

 

“Not yet,” the Tetarin said flatly. “Though it almost certainly will turn into one barring some feat by the Captain.”

 

Abronvonvich nodded. “As I said, he wasn’t under any orders from me…”

 

“What about that bit with the Romulan ambassador, do you think it’s connected?”

 

“On the record, I have no idea what he’s upto.”

 

The creases in Nyuri’s faces narrowed together as he bunched his face in a sort of awkward frown. “I see,” he said. “What about off the record, Misha?”

 

“Off the record? He’s likely headed to Romulan space to try to get to the bottom of this smuggling businesses.”

 

The creases narrowed even further. “I see.”

 

“Shame he had to go to that length…”

 

“I can’t help that.”

 

“I am sure,” Abronvonvich said neutrally. “Why don’t you check with ATAG?”

 

Nyuri shook his head. “We did.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“They were less than helpful.”

 

“Imagine that. Always did say that whole outfit was more trouble than it was worth.”

 

“I am beginning to agree, but they have amassed a considerable amount of power and despite the headaches they occasionally cause – they’re not as troublesome as other units; and at least they’re official – even if they do only answer to the Commander of Starfleet and the President herself.”

 

Abronvonvich nodded, tucking his arms behind his back. “I thought Intel had someone on his ship.”

 

‘Frowning’ even deeper and shaking his Nyuri waived a hand. “They do, but she’s been out of contact since they left Excalibur. On top of that her Station Chief has gone missing.”

 

“You think Corizon is behind it.”

 

“It’s possible. The man is no amateur.”

 

“You can say that twice.”

 

“No matter,” Nyuri finally said after a few moments of silence. “We will find him or the Romulans will, if your hunch is correct; and though I am sure his motives were admirable he will face consequences for his cavalier attitude towards not just regulations, but Federation and intergalactic law.”

 

“Let’s hope it’s us who finds him then, for his crew’s sake.”

 

“If they knew about this,” Nyuri said flatly. “And didn’t try to stop him, they’ll be in just as much trouble as he is going to be in, I promise you that.”

 

Abronvonvich kept silent.

 

“Well, Misha, it was good talking to you again, even if it is a rather unpleasant matter. If this does go the way it’s looking, you will have to testify about what you knew – and when.”

 

“Of course, Admiral.”

 

“Very well. Have a good evening.”

 

“You too, Nyuri.”

 

The screen flickered a moment before going black. Abronvonvich let out a heavy sigh before turning to Sannon. “By the stars.”

 

“Admiral?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Why didn’t you tell them about your thoughts about the cloak?”

 

“Mere speculation on my part…”

 

“You do know I will testify in your defense, sir, right?”

 

“I won’t ask you to lie for me, Leiutenant. If they bring pitchforks to me, they’ll have bitten off quite a bit.”

 

Sannon smiled. “I suspect that Captain Corizon is saying the same thing.”

 

“I suspect,” Abronvonvich said, returning to the windows. “Captain Corizon is three steps ahead of them.”